K-9 with Jefferson County Sheriff's Office to get bulletproof vest

CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. — Groupon Grassroots selected Vested Interest in K-9s Inc. as its charity partner for the event, which raised more than $155,000 in eight days, according to the news release.

Through an online $10 donation, people could purchase a groupon, which is a tax-deductible donation, through a secure website, according to the news release.

All funds were allocated to purchase ballistic vests for police department K-9s.

Vested Interest in K-9s, a nonprofit organization, will be able to provide bulletproof vests to more than 150 K-9s across the nation as a result of the funds raised, according to the release. Each vest, which has a five-year warranty, costs $950, according to the news release.

Sheriff’s deputy Cpl. D.C. Tabler, who works with K-9 Veit, said he is very thankful for his partner’s added protection.

“With K-9 Veit now officially receiving a vest, I feel much more secure knowing my police partner is safe as possible,” Tabler said in the release.

Tabler said he decided to try to obtain a vest for Veit after learning that Martinsburg Police Department K-9 Argos would be receiving the protective gear through the groupon event with Vested Interest in K-9s.

“I spend more hours with him than I do my own family,” Tabler said. “We spend a minimum of 45 hours a week working together and spend all of our off-time together. I am very thankful for this organization protecting my partner.”

Founded in 2009, Vested Interest in K-9s says its mission is to provide protective vests for law enforcement dogs throughout the United States. By September 2012, the organization said it had reached the milestone of donating $100,000 in protective vests to law enforcement agencies across the nation.

Donations for the K-9 vest initiative can be made online at www.vik9s.org or via mail to Vested Interest in K-9s Inc., P.O. Box 9 East Taunton, MA 02718.